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Hiking around Mammoth 11/13/15

Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2015 1:10 pm
by overheadx2
I'm headed up Lake Crowley to stay at a friends condo with the wife this weekend and wanted to do some 5 - 7 mile day hikes. We have snow shoes and spikes (not sure if they will be needed) so snow would be fun. I was thinking of doing a short hike up the Whitney trail in Lone Pine to get some exercise in and hike around Whitney Portal. Also thinking of either Rock Creek area if still open or Mcgee Creek by Crowley. I wouldn't mind doing a hike out of mammoth either. I'm not sure about what areas are available since there is quite a bit of snow. Any suggestions for this weekend?

Re: Hiking around Mammoth 11/13/15

Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2015 1:36 pm
by markskor
Locally ~ 15 - 20" new at 9,000 feet - mostly light/dry flakes to start, turning wetter last night... not that fun going as unconsolidated so far - damn pretty though!
Suggest the 3-mile loop around Convict - always magic.
Hot Creek loop?
Gate to lakes basin closed at Twin Lakes. Half the road up past Mary dedicated to "set tracks" but off the tracks always walk-able - on up to George - (Crystal Lake? - mines? - or?)
Outside my window right now.
Mark

Re: Hiking around Mammoth 11/13/15

Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2015 4:05 pm
by overheadx2
thanks mark

Re: Hiking around Mammoth 11/13/15

Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2015 5:06 pm
by gary c.
I agree with Mark about Convict being a good choice. I would also suggest the Rock Creek area. I don't know how far the road is open but it should be open the snow park at least. It might even be open as far as the pack station but I doubt it. A few years ago the wife and I snowshoed from the pack station up into Little Lakes Valley for a day and it was awesome. I think there is a trip report here someplace but I couldn't find it.

Re: Hiking around Mammoth 11/13/15

Posted: Sat Nov 14, 2015 11:22 am
by HikingGeek.com
I'm headed up to the area in a couple of weeks, 11/27-11/29. We are looking at the Rock Creek and Mammoth area as possible areas to snowshoe and hike. We are tentatively planning on a long day Saturday, then maybe something short in Mammoth on Sunday.

Rock Creek:
I've hiked LLV to both Morgan Pass and Mono Pass Peak. Does it sound too ambitious to think we'd be able to do one of these with the added snow and mileage (an extra 10 miles I think if we park at Sno-Park)? Mono Pass Peak has one of the best views I've ever seen:
Image

I've also been wanting to try Morgan South. Mt.Starr is another one.

I am considering making the trip a 1 night backpack, with us possibly staying at Mosquito Flats.

Mammoth:
For our long day, I am also considering Mammoth Crest (info here: HikingWalking.com). Based on the comments above, that area and this route should be doable with some road walking? The view from Duck Pass was another favorite from this past summer.
Image

I think that Minarets Vista is likely to be our early morning Sunday hike, with us possibly going north along San Joaquin Ridge for a bit. Have you been out to Deadman Pass? Are there any areas along the ridge that you'd try to hike to for views?

Re: Hiking around Mammoth 11/13/15

Posted: Sat Nov 14, 2015 6:32 pm
by gary c.
I don't have enough experience with snowshoeing to have much of an opinion on whats doable. When we hiked in from the pack station I did get a chance to look around the outside of the Rock Creek Lodge remote cabin. I thought it would be pretty cool to do and a heck of a lot warmer for $35 a night.

Check it out here.
http://rockcreeklodge.com/summer/winter/hut_trips.php

Re: Hiking around Mammoth 11/13/15

Posted: Tue Nov 17, 2015 3:36 pm
by overheadx2
Thanks for all the input. We ended up hiking the Whitney trail to Lone Pine Lake on the way up to Mammoth on Friday. At Crowley, we went for a short hike up the Convict lake trail and then fishing Hot Creek in the afternoon. Weather was amazing until Sunday when the storm came through.

Re: Hiking around Mammoth 11/13/15

Posted: Tue Nov 17, 2015 4:03 pm
by HikingGeek.com
overheadx2 wrote:Thanks for all the input. We ended up hiking the Whitney trail to Lone Pine Lake on the way up to Mammoth on Friday. At Crowley, we went for a short hike up the Convict lake trail and then fishing Hot Creek in the afternoon. Weather was amazing until Sunday when the storm came through.
How much snow did you run into?

Re: Hiking around Mammoth 11/13/15

Posted: Wed Nov 18, 2015 4:00 pm
by overheadx2
Mark was correct to say that full but thin coverage was at 9k. We left on Sunday so there was another 8 - 10 inches Sunday. We had a little trouble crossing creeks due to thick ice on creek rocks. Micro spikes were needed above 9k and especially on north facing slopes. Never deep enough for Snow shows, but all of the trails had been walked on. Snow shoes would probably be necessary over 10k. It was beautiful up there and great to hike around with out any one else around. Phil

Re: Hiking around Mammoth 11/13/15

Posted: Wed Nov 18, 2015 5:20 pm
by maverick
Phil,

Could you please post a few pictures, so those who are considering going out in the next week or so to that particular area, can see the current snow coverage. :) Thanks